The Day I Started Feeling My Age Hit Hard

I’ll never forget standing on the 15th hole of my regular Saturday golf game, clutching my back and wondering, “What happened to me?”

At 46, I used to breeze through 18 holes without a second thought. Golf had always been my escape—the one place I could feel calm, focused, and in control. But now? I was barely halfway through, and my knees were aching, my back was stiff, and even my swing felt weaker than it used to.

It wasn’t just golf, either.

A few weeks earlier, I decided to go for a morning jog—something I’d done for years to clear my head. But halfway through my usual route, I had to stop this time. My legs felt heavy, my knees were protesting, and my chest was tight.

I couldn’t shake the feeling that my body was giving up on me.

And it scared me.

I started thinking about my dad when I was my age. By his mid-40s, he’d already hung up his golf clubs, swapped his morning walks for a recliner, and started complaining about how “everything hurts.” I’d always told myself I’d be different—staying active, strong, and sharp for as long as possible.

But now, I wasn’t so sure.

The aches, stiffness, and fatigue made me wonder: Was this just part of getting older? Was I destined to feel this way for the rest of my life?

Frustrated, I brought it up with my doctor during my annual check-up.

After describing my symptoms, he leaned back in his chair and nodded knowingly.

“You’re showing all the classic signs of chronic inflammation,” he said.

“Inflammation?” I asked, surprised.

He explained how chronic inflammation could cause so many issues—aching joints, low energy, and even the stiffness that was throwing off my golf game.

“Left unchecked, it’s like a slow burn in your body,” he said. “It’s the root cause of many serious health problems, and it’s something we often call ‘The Silent Killer.’ The good news is that there are ways to address it and get back on track.”

Determined to understand more, I went home and researched everything I could about inflammation.

What I discovered was eye-opening—and it finally explained everything I was going through.